Interfaith Leader Cherishes Her Time on Campus
Charlotte native Ayah Zoabi ‘23 was drawn to Queens University of Charlotte because of the close connections she could make with her professors and the many opportunities she knew the school would provide to encourage her personal and professional growth. Since beginning her journey as a biology major in the Honors Program, the Presidential Scholar has served on the Interfaith America Leadership Team, worked as a laboratory assistant, and excelled as president of the Muslim Student Association. Now, the December graduate is preparing to take the MCAT before embarking on the next step in her educational journey toward medical school.
“As a physician, I hope to dedicate my life to caring for my patients but also specifically ensuring the health of my community,” said Zoabi. “I aspire to work in low-income communities that may not have as much access to healthcare needs, or even to work with Doctors Without Borders. Engaging with the Charlotte community allowed me to build on necessary skills for community development that I will be able to use for years to come.”
As president of the Muslim Student Association, Zoabi has connected with her Palestinian heritage while cultivating deeper community on campus.
“I have had the opportunity to build so many relationships with leaders on campus, professors, and staff members. Side by side, we’ve held impactful events, conducted intriguing research, and implemented important initiatives to improve our communities and beyond.”
Outside of her extracurricular involvement, Zoabi has fostered a global perspective through the John Belk International Program (JBIP), which grants full-time undergraduate students the chance to study abroad at little to no additional cost. As part of her JBIP experience, Zoabi learned about biodiversity, healing in plants, and indigenous communities.
When asked about which professor or staff member at Queens had the biggest influence on her development, Zoabi had too many mentors to name. She has enjoyed working closely with professors in her department but has also been able to form meaningful relationships with faculty outside of her college.
As she looks ahead to the next chapter of her life after Queens, she appreciates the access Queens granted her to a major city.
“Uptown is home to several healthcare centers like Atrium, Novant, and several other smaller clinics. Being so close to the city center opens up so many opportunities for networking, internships, and so much more, you just have to be willing to seek those opportunities out and put in the work!”